This week’s drought monitor index report, released this (Thursday) morning, shows numerous counties across Missouri with severe drought conditions. There are exceptions in a couple far-reaching areas of the state. The map shows several counties of southeastern Missouri in an EXTREME drought as they have been drier for a longer period of time.

There are some locations of northwest Missouri, most in a line from St. Joseph to Bethany, listed with "moderate" drought conditions.

Mike Lear of the MissouriNet has more on the drought monitor index in an interview with Pat Guinan, a University of Missouri Climatologist: